The Springfield Red Birds, based in Springfield, Illinois, were a one-season identity for a franchise that spent the 1920s and 1930s renaming itself to match its current Major League Baseball affiliation. The club played as the Senators from 1925 to 1930, became the Browns in 1931 when it affiliated with the St. Louis Browns, then took the Red Birds name in 1934, its second season as a St. Louis Cardinals affiliate, when it joined the Class B Central League.
The Red Birds were sitting in second place in the Central League standings at 14-12 under manager Joe Mathes on June 10, 1934, the day the Central League permanently disbanded. Springfield's season, and the league itself, ended there.
The franchise picked back up in the Illinois-Iowa-Indiana League in 1935, renamed the Senators again under a new Detroit Tigers affiliation. Springfield finished 74-45 for second place and beat the Bloomington Bloomers four games to two in the playoffs, but Bloomington was awarded the title anyway after Springfield refused to replay a protested final game, a ruling the league president upheld.
Springfield returned to the Browns name in 1938 and won the Illinois-Iowa-Indiana League championship in 1939, beating the Decatur Commodores in the finals. The franchise continued on and off in Springfield, under various names, into 1950.
The Central League itself was a Class B circuit that ran, often sporadically, from 1903 into the 1930s (with a later 1948-51 revival), fielding teams mostly from Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Michigan, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia.
Retro Baseball Revival celebrates historic baseball teams with unique apparel, honoring their legacy and bringing history to one-of-a-kind clothing with our old school retro baseball tees from defunct Minor League Baseball teams. All of our high quality apparel is designed, printed, and shipped within the USA. This collection features 100% original designs based on the history and nicknames of historic minor league teams.
Our crewneck sweatshirts are classics that anyone is sure to recognize. They are thick, durable Gildan brand crews. They are a cotton/poly blend that stands the test of time.
Size Guide: True to size
- Made with a medium-heavy fabric blend of 50% cotton and 50% polyester (8.0 oz/yd² (271.25 g/m²)), this sweatshirt feels cozy and is the perfect choice for those colder months.
- The classic fit along with the crew neckline deliver a comfy wearing experience with a clean-cut style. Meanwhile, the double-needle stitching at the shoulder, armhole, neck, waistband, and cuff seams add top-tier durability.
- Say goodbye to itchiness thanks to the gray, pearlized tear-away label.
- Made using 100% ethically grown US cotton. Gildan is also a proud member of the US Cotton Trust Protocol ensuring ethical and sustainable means of production. The blank shirt's dyes are OEKO-TEX-certified dyes with low environmental impact.
- Machine wash: cold (max 30C or 90F); Non-chlorine: bleach as needed; Tumble dry: low heat; Do not iron; Do not dryclean.
